Yarn tensioning means for bobbin winding machines



R. P. DRAKE Oct. 28, 1952 YARN TENSIONING MEANS FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed March 14, 1947 2 $HEETSSHEET l INVENTOR; Russe P Drake ATTORNE Y6 Oct. 28, 1952 R. P. DRAKE 2,515,640

YARN TENSIONING MEANS FOR BQBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed March 14, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENJT'OR. Russell P. Drake ATTORVNE Y6 Patented Oct. 28, 1 952 YARN TEN SIONING MEANS FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Russell P. Drake, Caledonia, Ill., assignor to Barv her-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationMarch 14, 1947, Serial No. 734,675

12 Claims.

The invention pertains to machines for winding filling wound bobbins and has particular reference to an improved means for tensioning the running strand of yarn as it is being wound upon the bobbin.

Bobbin winding machines of the character indicated are equipped with means for traversing the yarn so as to cause the yarn to be wound in successive conical layers gradually decreasing in diameter from the butt end of the bobbin toward the tip end thereof with the result that a filling wound package is produced having an intermediate section of uniform diameter and tapering or conical end sections. To produce hard or firm packages, the practice is'to place the yarn under tension as it is Wound on the bobbin core by causing the yarn in its approach to the bobbin to pass over relatively staggered frictional surfaces. However, the speed of travel of the running strand varies widely throughout the length of the conical layer. Thus, in winding filling wound bobbins of the character employed in looms. theyarn is drawn from the supply source approximately four times as fast when the diameter of the layer is at its maximum than when at its minimum.

Because the rate of travel of the yarn thus varies so widely at different diameters, the tensioning means heretofore employed has been incapable of compensating adequately for the different winding speeds. cient tension is produced'at the higher speeds, the tension at low speed is insufficient with the result that the end of the package which is produced is too soft so that the yarn tends to slough off too easily.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a yarn tensioning means for a machine for winding bobbins of the filling wound type, wherein the amount of tension imposed upon the yarn is automatically varied in accordance with variations in the diameter of successively wound conical layers.

Filling wound packages are produced through the use of a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement lengthwise of the bobbin and operative upon the running strand to reciprocate the same through a predetermined range'during such feeding movement of the device, the'length of such range of reciprocation of the traversing device determining the degree of taper at the ends of the yarn mass. In the initial portion of the winding operation, that is to say, during the formation of the conical ortapered portion ad-.

In particular, if sufii-' jacent the butt end of the bobbin, the successively wound layers are more'nearly of uniform diameter, the first being entirely uniform throughout its length and succeeding layers gradually decreasing in diameter from the butt end toward the tip end of the bobbin incident to the continuous feeding or builder motion imparted to the traversing device lengthwise of the bobbin. To compensate for this condition, a further object of the invention is to adjust the tensioning device automatically so as to place the yarn under substantially uniform tension during the winding of the initial layers composing the package, and thereafter to vary the tension so as to increase the same at the higher speeds of travel of the yarn and gradually decrease thesame as -the rate of travel is reduced.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a multiple unit bobbin winding machine of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,409,639, issued to Brooks Marcellus and showing one of the winding units with the improvedyarn tensioning device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale showing the tensioning device associated with the yarn traversing means.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a winding unit and its associated yarn tensioning means.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the yarn tensioning means in the winding of a filling wound bobbin.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a bobbin -b to be wound is supported at one end by means of a chuck I on a winding spindle 8, and at the other end by a centering slide 9. The spindle may be driven in any suitableway as, for example, that disclosed in said prior patent.

The yarn traversing device is preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,326,- 307, issued August 10, 1943, to Burt A. Peterson. Thus it consists of a cylindrical cam member 10 mounted coaxially of the bobbin and providing spiral surfaces Illa. and lb operative in the unidirectional rotation of the member to reciprocate the yarn being wound, through a predetermined range. In addition to its unidirectional rotational movement, the cam member. I0 is moved continuously longitudinallyof the bobbin in what .is sometimes referred to as a builder motion. For this purpose, the cam member is mounted upon a slide ll having a rack l2 rigid therewith for engagement by a suitably driven feed pinion I3. Rotational movement is imparted to the cam member by suitable gearing (not shown) within a gear housing I4 rigid with the slide.

The running strand of yarn extends from a suitable yarn mass (not shown) downwardly over a guide rod l5. Adjacent the bobbin it is threaded through the improved tensioning device generally designated I6. The latter is carried by the slide above the bobbin so as to occupy a fixed relation to the traversing cam I0. As herein shown, the cam I is. enclosed, within a cylindrical hood I! stationarily mounted on the slide and forming a part of a lint removal system, the upper side of the hood being provided with a slot Ha (Fig. 3) through which the running strand extends from the tensioning device to the bobbin.

In the present illustrative embodiment of my invention, the improved tensioning device l6 comprises a pair of plates [8 and a third plate 20 (Fig. 3) providing opposed relatively staggered frictional surfaces 2| and 22 such that the yarn in its passage to the bobbin is deflected so as to engage frictionally with the several surfaces and thus resist the movement of the yarn to increase the tension on the strand between the device l6 and the bobbin. The several plates I8, 20 are, in the present instance, mounted on the hood II, the latter being constructed to provide pads 24 and 25 for this purpose. The plates [8 are spaced apart vertically by a spacer block 25, and the plate 2|] is disposed in a plane substantially midway between the two plates 18,

being spaced from the pad 25 by a spacer 26a.

In Fig. 4, the construction and mode of operation is shown somewhat schematically, the tensioning device being for the sake of clearness shown in laterally offset relation to the bobbin instead of directly thereover as in the actual construction shown in Fig. 3. Various positions occupied by the running strand during its reciprocation by the traversing device, are shown, and, it will be evident that when the strand is in the position a shown infull lines,

the rate of travel of the strand is at its maximum, and when in the position a thev rate of speed is at its minimum, intermediate speeds being produced when the yarn is in the positions indicated at a and a As in common practice, the yarn is wound in successive conical layers which are caused to overlap due to the feeding or builder motion imparted to the traversing device continuously along the bobbin. The result is that the filling wound package produced has a central or intermediate portion b of uniform diameter and conical ends b and b the degree of taper being determined by the length of the traversing stroke produced by the spiral surfaces on the traversing cam l0.

As shown in Fig. 4, the frictional surfaces 2| and 22 extend lengthwise of the bobbin at one Side thereof a distance somewhat in excess of the traversing stroke of the running strand, and in accordance with my invention these frictional surfaces are especially shaped so as to provide for a gradually increasing tension on the strand as the winding point on the bobbin shifts from that of maximum diameter to that of minimum diameter. To this end the opposed surfaces 2| and 22 are inclined in opposite directions so that spect to the plate 20 gradually-increases.-

4 result, the degree of deflection of the running strand in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 gradually increases as the speed of travel of the yarn decreases, thereby imposing a gradually increasing tension on the running strand between the device [6 and the bobbin.

Forwardly of the normal range of traverse oi the yarn, the opposed frictional surfaces curve reversely so as to form a generally V-shaped opening 21 to guide the running strand into position between the opposed plates. Moreover, means is provided for effecting a relative shifting movement between the plates [8 on the one hand and the plate 20 on the other, so as to facilitate the entry of the running strand between plates, and also to condition the tensioning device for operation during the initial portion of each bobbin winding operation. It will be observed in this connection that the initial layer of yarn formed on the bobbin is of uniform diameter throughout its length and that subsequent layers gradually decrease in diameter from the butt toward the tip end of the bobbin due to the overlapping of the successive layers incident to the feeding or builder motion.

In the present instance the plate 20 is movably mounted and cam means is provided for controlling the position of this plate when the traversing device occupies its initial winding position. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the plate 20 is pivoted on a stud 28 (Figs. 2 and 3) anchored in the pad 25, and it is formed with a rearwardly extending arm 29 carrying a roller follower 30 for coaction with a stationary cam member 3i.v A contractile spring 32 anchored at one end to the spacer block 26a on the pad 25 and at its other end to a. pin 34 on the arm 29 tends to hold the roller follower in engagement with the cam 3|. As shown in Fig. 3, the cam 31 is formed. integral with the upper portion of an upright bracket 35 suitably mounted on the machine frame.

The cam member 3| is formed at opposite ends with two dwell'surfaces 36 and 36a (Fig. 4) and intermediate its ends with an inclined cam surface 37. When the yarn traversing cam occupies its initial retracted position with respect to the bobbin, the roller follower 30 engages the rear dwell surfaces 36a, and in the advance of the traversing cam the roller moves onto the inclined surface 31, the length of which corresponds to the range of traverse of the yarn as produced by the cam surfaces Illa and lOb of the traversing cam. Accordingly, as the roller moves alongv the inclinedcam surface 31, it imparts a gradual shifting movement to the plate 20 so as to carry the frictional surfaces 2|, 22 from the nonstaggered or parallel relationship shown in broken lines in Fig. 4 gradually into full staggered relationship. It will thus be seen that in the-initial portion of the winding operation during which the conical end portion b: of the bobbin is being formed, the friction surfaces move slowly into a relatively inclined relationship so as gradually to increase the tension on the running strand as it is moved forwardly by the traversing cam and to decrease such tension as the strand is moved rearwardly.

Uponmovement of the plates into full overlapping relation, the roller follower moves away from the cam surface 31 on the cam member 3| and, coincidentally therewith, a stop screw 38 adjustably mounted on the plate 20 (Fig. 3) moves into engagement with the side of the pad 25,, thereby limitingthe extent of movement of the plate 20. by, the spring and insuring that, upon retraction of the traversing device, the roller will clear the end of the cam member 3|. In its pivotal motion, the plate 20 is guided by a pin and slot connection with the-spacer plate 26a (Fig. 2) formed by a stud 39 in a slot 40.

Summarizing the operation of the device, when the traversing cam occupies its position at the beginning of the winding operation, the plates l8 and 20 providing the opposed frictional surfaces 2| and 22 are relatively positioned by the cam member 3| acting upon the roller follower 30 so that such surfaces are disposed in vertical planes preferably spaced a short distance apart laterally. At this time, the roller follower rests upon the rear dwell surface 36a of the cam. Immediately thereafter as the traversing slide is advanced, the roller follower moves onto the inclined surface 31, causing the plate 20 to shift under the action of the spring 32 so as to carry the frictional surface 22 gradually toward and beyond the plane of the frictional surfaces 2|. Accordingly, a gradually increasing tension is imposed upon the running strand as the bobbin approaches its maximum diameter. Finally, as the successive layers are wound, the plates occupy their full staggered relationship shown in full lines in Fig. 4 in which the movement of the plate 20 toward the plates I8 is interrupted by the adjustable stop 38. Accordingly, as the winding proceeds, the plates I8 and 20 remain relatively stationary and due to the opposite inclination of the frictional surfaces 2| and 22, the tension on the running strand is varied so as to increase gradually as the winding point during the formation of successive layers progresses from maximum diameter to minimum diameter with the speed of travel of the yarn correspondingly decreasing.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bobbin winding machine, means for rotatably supporting a core upon which a strand of yarn is to be wound, a yarn traversing device operative upon the strand as it is wound on the core so as to wind the same in successive con- 7 ical layers with the speed of the strand increasing and decreasing with the diameter of the having an edge surface extending. lengthwise of the core atv one side thereof and inclined with respect to the axis of the core so as to deflect the strand from its normal path of travel varying amounts determined by the position of the strand lengthwise of such member, and an additional longitudinally extending member overlapping the first-mentioned .membeir, the traversing device including means to move the strand lengthwise of the membersand the core.

2. In a bobbin winding machine having means for rotatably supporting a core on which a strand is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement from a retracted position rearwardly of the core toward the tip end thereof, said device being operative in such movement to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device mounted for movement with the traversing device, comprising a pair of normally stationary members overlapping for a portion of their length to provide relatively staggered frictional opposed edge surfaces extending lengthwise of the core at one side thereof and relatively staggered so as to deflect the running strand out of its normal path of travel, said opposed edge.

ing device is returned to its retracted position to effect a relative shifting movement of the members to carry said opposed edge surfaces into nonstaggered relationship.

3. In a bobbin winding machine having means for rotatably supporting a core on which a strand is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement longitudinally of the core from a retracted position adjacent the rear end thereof, said device being operative to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device mounted for movement with the traversing device and comprising a pair of normally stationary members overlapping for a portion of their length to provide relatively staggered frictional opposed edge surfaces extending lengthwise ofthe core at one side thereof and relatively staggered so as to be operative upon the running strand to tension the same, the opposing surfaces being relatively inclined so that as the running strand is moved along the bobbin bythe traversing device the degree of tension is increased, said members being relatively movable, and cam means operative when the traversing device is re-' turned to its retracted position to effect a relative shifting movement of the members to carry said opposed surfaces into nonstaggered relationship, said cam means being further operative in the advance of the traversing device from its retracted position to cause said opposed edge surfaces to move gradually into staggered relation.

4. In a bobbin winding machine having means for rotatably supporting a core on which a strand is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement longitudinally of the core from a retracted position adjacent the rear end thereof, said device being operative to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn' tensioning device mounted for movement with the traversing device and comprising a pair of members overlapping for a portion of their length to provide relatively staggered frictional edge surfaces extending,

lengthwise of the core at one side thereof and operative while in a stationary position to deflect the running strand from its normal path of travel to tension the same, the edge surfaces being relatively inclinedso that as the running strand is moved along the bobbin by the traversing device,

the degree of offset of the surfaces relative to each other is increased, said members being relatively movable, and cam means operative when the traversing cam is returned to its retracted position to effect a relative shifting movement of the members to carry said opposed surfaces into a substantially common plane, said cam means being further operative in the advance of the traversing device in its retracted position to cause said opposed surfaces to move gradually into staggered relation, the cam means being proportioned so that the last mentioned movement of the member-s is interrupted at a predetermined point in the advance of the traversing device relative to the bobbin being wound.

5. In a bobbin winding machine having means for rotatably supporting a core on which a strand M be o n ay t rs ng e ic mount d for feeding movement longitudinally of the core from a retracted position adjacent the rear end thereof, said device being operative to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device mounted for movement with the traversing device including a pair of relatively movable members overlapping for a portion of their length to pro-' vide frictional edge surfaces extending longitudinally of the core at one side thereof and engageable with the running strand to deflect the same out of its normal path of travel whereby to impose tension thereon, spring means tending to hold said members in a relatively fixed position with said edge surfaces in relatively staggered relationship, and means operative when the traversing device is returned to its said retracted position to effect a relative shifting movement between said members against the action of said spring means.

6. In a bobbin winding machine having means for rotatably supporting a core on which a strand is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement ongitudinally of the core from a retracted position adjacent the rear end thereof, said device being operative to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device mounted for movement with the traversing device including a pair of relatively movable members providing frictional edge surfaces extending longitudinally of the core at one side thereof and positioned for engagement by the running strand to deflect the same out of its normal path of travel, spring means tending to hold'said members in a relatively fixed position with said opposed surfaces in relatively staggered relationship, and cam means operative when the traversing device is returned to its said retracted position to impart a relative shifting movement between said members against the action of said spring means, said cam means being operative in the advance of the traversing device tromits said retracted position to cause said opposed surfaces to move gradually into staggered relationship.

'1. In a machine for winding bobbins having means r'otatably supporting the bobbin to be wound, the combination of a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement lengthwise of the bobbin and operative upon the running strand to reciprocate the same through a predetermined range during such feeding movement of the device so as to produce a package of the filling wound type, and a yarn tensioning device comprising a pair of members providing frictional edge surfaces extending lengthwise f the bobbin at one side thereof with a length corresponding to said range and offset laterally with respect to each other so as to cause a deflection of the yarn from its normal path of travel, the members being positioned to be traversed by the reciprocating' yarn strand, said relatively offset surfaces being inclined relative to each other so as to vary the degree of offset and therefore the amount of tension imposed upon the yarn as the latter is reciprocated lengthwise of the bobbin in the operation of said traversing device.

8. In a machine for winding bobbins having means rotatably supporting the bobbin to be wound, the combination of a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement lengthwise of the bobbin and operative upon the running strand to reciprocate the same through a prerange during such feeding movement of the device so as to produce a package of the filling wound type, and a yarn tensioning device comprising a pair of members providing frictional edge surfaces extending lengthwise of the bobbin at one side thereof and offset laterally with respect toeach other so as to cause a deflection of the yarn from its normal path of travel, said surfaces being disposed at an angle relative to each other and to the axis of the bobbin being wound so as to increase the degree of offset of the surfaces relative to each other in a direction forwardly of the bobbin whereby to vary the amount of tension imposed upon the yarn as the latter is reciprocated lengthwise of the bobbin in the operation of said traversing device.

9. In a bobbin winding machine, means for rotatably supporting a core upon which a strand of yarn is to be wound, a yarn traversing device operative upon the running strand so as to wind the same in successive conical layers, said traversing device being mounted for movement from an initially retracted position rearwardly of the core toward the tip end thereof, yarn tensioning meansincluding a pair of normally stationary members at least one of which is mounted for transverse movement relative to the other and both extending longitudinally of the bobbin at one side thereof with edge surfaces offset laterally with respect to each other so as to cause deflection of the yarn from its normal path of travel, said surfaces being relatively inclined so as to increase the degree of offset in the advance of the strand relative to such surfaces by the traversing device, and means Operable when the traversing device is in its said retracted position with respect to the bobbin to shift the movable member in a direction to position said surfaces into parallel relation to each other.

10. In a bobbin winding machine, means for rotatably supporting a core upon which a strand of yarn is to be wound, a yarn traversing device operative upon the running strand so as to wind the same in successive conical layers, said traversing device being mounted for movement from an initially retracted position rearwardly of the core toward the tip end thereof, yarn tensioning means including a pair of normally stationary members at least one of which is mounted for transverse movement relative to the other and both extending longitudinally of the bobbin at one side thereof with edge surfaces offset laterally with respect to each other so as to cause deflection of the yarn from its normal path of travel, said surfaces being relatively inclined so as to increase the degree of offset in the advance of the strand relative to such surfaces by the traversing device, and means operable when the traversing device is in its said retracted position with respect to the bobbin to shift the movable member in a direction to position said surfaces into parallel relation to each other, said means being operative in the initial advance of the traversing device from said retracted position to move the movable member so as to restore said surfaces gradually to their staggered relation.

11.'In a bobbin Winding machine, means for rotatably supporting a core upon which a strand of yarn is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement longitudinally of the core from a retracted position rearwardly of the core toward the tip end thereof, said device being operative in such movement to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device comprising a', me'l'ilbr' having an elongated thread guiding surface extending longitudinally of the core at one side thereof so as to be engageable by the running strand in its reciprocation by said traversing device and a second elongated member spaced from the first member in the direction of travel of the strand and having an elongated thread guiding surface fixed relative to the guiding surface of the first member and oiTset relative thereto so as to deflect the strand from its normal path of travel and thereby impose tension thereon, one of said members being mounted for movement relative to the other, and means operative in the movement of the traversing device to it retracted position to shift said one member and carry its guiding surface out of its normal strand deflecting position.

12. In a bobbin winding machine, means for rotatably supporting a core upon which a strand of yarn is to be wound, a yarn traversing device mounted for feeding movement longitudinally of the core from a retracted position rearwardly of the core toward the tip end thereof, said device being operative in such movement to impart to the running strand a traversing stroke of predetermined length, a yarn tensioning device comprising an elongated plate having a thread guiding edge extending longitudinally of the core at one side thereof so as to be engageable by the RUSSELL P. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,025,988 Marlow May 14, 1912 2, 26,307 Peterson Aug. 10, 1943 2,439,519 Marcellus Apr. 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 338,861 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1930 564,213 France Dec. 24, 1923 568,015 France Mar. 13, 1924 

